Sunday, July 31, 2011

Bulls 3, Charlotte 2Reid Brignac doubled in Ray Olmedo, who had tripled, with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Russ Canzler doubled, tripled and scored twice. Dane De La Rosa retired all four batters he faced to end it, three via strikeout.

Hot Rods 3, Dayton 1Wilking Rodriguez and Jimmy Patterson each threw four shutout innings. Patterson gave up just one hit and Rodriguez four. Julio Cedeno hit a solo home run and Robby Price hit an RBI double, walked and scored.

Williamsport 3, Renegades 2Craige Lyerly hit a two-run home run with one out in the ninth inning. Hudson Valley mustered two other singles and one walk. Starter Jake Floethe left after just one inning (?? lengthy rain delay). He gave up one run and has a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings. Robert Dickmann went four innings, giving up one hit, three walks and two unearned runs. Brooks Belter threw three shutout innings of one-hit ball.

P-Rays 6, Greeneville 1Ryan Brett walked thrice, singled, stole, was caught stealing, erred, and scored twice. Drew Vettleson was 3-for-4 with a double, walk, two RBIs and run scored. Jake DePew singled, doubled and knocked in two runs. Cameron Seitzer walked thrice and scored once. Jeff Ames threw five shutout innings and gave up three hits. David Kubiak tossed four innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Nate Samson and Blake Lalli each hit two-run singles in a six-run sixth inning that pushed the Tennessee Smokies to an 8-2 win over the Biscuits on Saturday.

Samson and Lalli had Tennessee's only hits in the 11-batter inning, which included no earned runs. With two outs, Montgomery reliever Neil Schenk issued four straight walks before Samson's single chased him. A walk later, Lalli hit his single.

Tim Beckham hit his seventh home run in the third inning and singled. His error in the sixth led to the six unearned runs. Cole Figueroa tripled after Beckham's home run and scored on a Henry Wrigley single. Figueroa also singled and walked.

Stone Crabs 5, Tampa 3 (11)Omar Luna hit an RBI single and Ty Morrison took a bases-loaded HBP in the 11th. Mark Thomas tied it with a pinch-hit single with two outs in the ninth. Mike Sheridan walked twice and scored twice. Alex Koronis gave up three runs (one earned) in six innings. Josh Satow threw three shutout innings, allowing four hits. Tyler Bortnick singled, walked and stole.

Pitcher Joe Cruz may not miss the rest of the season after all. Cruz, who left the Biscuits in early June and said he was headed for season-ending surgery, was able to avoid the knife and is close to returning.

Cruz said he's scheduled to throw two innings Wednesday for the GCL Rays and return to the Biscuits in "two weeks, tops." After leaving the Biscuits, Cruz had a cortisone shot in his shoulder and rested for a month before starting a throwing program.

"It feels like night and day from when I was in Montgomery," Cruz said. "My body feels better and my arm is great. It's a big difference."

Cruz, after leading the Florida State League with 13 wins last year, was 3-5 with an 8.43 ERA in 11 starts for Montgomery.

"I can't wait to get back out there," Cruz said. "It's been a good rehab assignment for me, and I want to try to get back to my old self."

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLSInternational League South(59-47, tied for first place)C Stephen Vogt was 2-for-4 in his debut Friday.LHP Matt Moore, in two starts and 13 innings, has six hits allowed and 20 strikeouts.LF Leslie Anderson has a .281 average and 58 RBIs.LHP Alex Torres is 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last five starts.RHP Ryan Reid has allowed one run over 9.1 innings since returning to the Bulls.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABSFlorida State League South(19-16, third place, 0.5 GB)RHP Scott Shuman has a 5.79 ERA, 46 walks and 65 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.LHP Kyle Lobstein snapped a six-start losing streak Thursday and is 7-8 with a 3.98 ERA.SS Hak-Ju Lee is hitting .320 with 72 runs scored.LHP Adam Liberatore has a 1.95 ERA since May 1.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODSMidwest League Eastern(15-17, sixth place, 8 GB)OF Steve Tinoco, with a .319 average in July, is hitting .280.RHP George Jensen has allowed one run in six innings in each of his last two starts.LHP Chris Rearick has a 1.71 ERA.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYSAppalachian League East(21-17, second place, 1 GB)RF Drew Vettleson has a .452 average and 10 RBIs in his current nine-game hitting streak. He's hitting .313 with 27 RBIs.RHP Reinaldo Lopez has a 1.32 ERA in 27.1 innings.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYSGulf Coast League South(13-16, tied for third, 4 GB)LHP Theron Geith is 3-0 with two saves and a 1.98 ERA in nine appearances.SS Jonathan Quinonez has a .289 average and 13 RBIs.

WAYWARD BISCUITSThose who strayed from the Rays3B Gabriel Martinez finished the season with a 14-game hitting streak at Laguna of the Mexican League. He was a combined .323 with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs and 78 runs scored in 96 games between Laguna and Saltillo.RHP Jose Veras has a 3.26 ERA in 52 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates.RHP Aneury Rodriguez is 0-4 with a 4.95 ERA for the Houston Astros.LHP Darin Downs has a 3.24 ERA in three games at Triple-A New Orleans (Marlins).RHP Nick DeBarr is 3-4 with seven saves and a 4.15 ERA at independent Fort Worth.OF Joey Gathright has a .348 average for independent Yuma.OF Ryan Royster was released by independent Brockton. He was hitting .264.RHP Rayner Oliveras has a 3.22 ERA at independent Quebec.LHP Jason Cromer, who had a 3.38 ERA with independent Somerset, has retired.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Henry Wrigley's go-ahead, two-run single highlighted a four-run sixth inning that gave the Biscuits a 7-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies on Friday.

Kyeong Kang, who homered for the fourth time in five games, and Tim Beckham each scored twice for Montgomery. Matt Sweeney's two-run single capped the four-run sixth.

Biscuits starter Alex Colome, after giving up one run through five innings, ran into sixth-inning trouble. He gave up two runs in the sixth before leaving with just one out. Colome was making his Riverwalk debut.

Marquis Fleming (4-2) escaped the jam and worked 2 2/3 innings for the win. Zach Quate worked a perfect ninth for his 18th save.

Lake County 9, Hot Rods 7Cody Rogers homered, singled, walked, erred and scored twice. Steve Tinoco was 3-for-4 with an HBP, an RBI and two runs scored. Each also registered an outfield assist. Phil Wunderlich hit a solo home run. Nick Schwaner doubled, walked, stole and knocked in two runs. Enny Romero threw just three innings (hmmm) and gave up four runs on six hits and no walks.

Renegades 9, Auburn 1Andrew Bellatti threw five shutout innings, with two hits allowed, one walk and six strikeouts. Craige Lyerly hit a three-run home run, singled, walked, stole and scored twice. Juniel Querecuto had two singles, a walk, a steal, an RBI and a run scored. Jeff Malm scored twice and knocked in a run.

Montgomery's Matt Sweeney hit a two-run single in the sixth inning Friday to snap a Biscuits-record 30-at bat hitless streak. His last hit was an second-inning infield single June 27. The previous record was a 28 at-bats by Cody Strait from April 29-May 12, 2010.

Shane Dyer won for the first time since June 8, leading the Biscuits to a 5-1 victory over the Tennessee Smokies on Thursday.

Dyer (5-6), who worked six innings, giving up one run on eight hits, had lost five straight decisions. The Biscuits turned three double plays behind him. Shawn O'Malley scored twice and hit an RBI double, while Cole Figueroa and Greg Sexton had two RBIs each.

Stone Crabs 3, Brevard County 2 (Game 1)Tyler Bortnick hit a two-run single in the fifth. In the first inning, he walked, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch. Kyle Lobstein gave up one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Stone Crabs 3, Brevard County 2 (Game 2)Anthony Scelfo had two singles, a walk and an RBI. Omar Luna singled, doubled and scored twice. Ty Morrison singled home Luna to win it with one out in the seventh. Kirby Yates allowed one hit in 2 2/3 shutout innings. He struck out five.

Lake County 5, Hot Rods 4Robby Price homered, singled, walked and scored twice. Steve Tinoco had two hits, two RBIs and an HBP.

Renegades 3, Auburn 1Chris Winder singled, doubled and knocked in two runs. Jacob Partridge threw five shutout innings, allowing just one hit with two walks and four strikeouts.

P-Rays 7, Pulaski 5Drew Vettleson was 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two runs scored and a steal. Joel Caminero homered and scored twice. Ryan Brett walked thrice with an RBI and run scored. Cameron Seitzer hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth. Shay Crawford struck out all four batters he faced.

Lopez was initially headed to Durham after spring training before Evan Longoria's oblique injury rerouted him to the majors. Lopez hit .216 in 32 games with the Rays and .305 in 48 with Durham. He's been in the majors each of the last 11 years.

Montgomery's Stephen Vogt wasn't the only catcher to play Tuesday that's no longer at Riverwalk as of today. Tennessee's Steve Clevenger has been promoted to Triple-A Iowa after Iowa lost Welington Castillo to a hamstring injury. Clevenger was hitting .278 in 74 games.

Rob Delaney, after being called up and pitching Wednesday for the Rays, has been sent back to Triple-A Durham, and Tampa Bay called up Mike Ekstrom. That's 18 transactions between the Rays and Bulls since July 15.

Sure, it would be otherwise, if we had our druthers,but yes -- oh, yes -- the infield is currently covered.

3:20 update ...Just as I posted that, a group sprang to life,hit the field, grabbed the tarp, to all's delight.They pulled and they folded and they moved it aside.May the tarp stay hidden for the rest of the night.

3:30 update ...Oops, the tarp didn't go as far as I'd hoped.Making me dread the details of the previous post.It's sitting, folded, just off the infield dirt.In case the clouds provide a quick, rainy squirt.

4 update ...The tarp is gone, put away.Time for a big hip, hip, hooray.Biscuit batting practice is on the way.

Outfielder Kyeong Kang has homered in three straight games for the Biscuits, something accomplished just 11 previous times for the team. Nobody has gone deep in four straight games, so Kang will go for history tonight.

Henry Wrigley -- July 7-10, 2010 (rainout July 9)Matt Fields -- June 20-24, 2010, his last three games with Biscuits (no game June 21, didn't play June 22, demoted)Rhyne Hughes -- April 28-30, 2009Chris Nowak -- Sept. 12-14, 2007 (first three games of championship series)Matt Spring -- July 4-7, 2007 (didn't play July 6)Evan Longoria -- May 12-14, 2007Michael Coleman -- Sept. 13-15, 2006 (last three games of championship series)Jeremy Owens -- June 5-7, 2006, starting a five-homer, seven-game stretchRyan Christianson -- April 30, May 2 and May 4, 2006 (no game May Day, didn't play May 3; also homered twice May 4)Michael Coleman -- April 29-30, May 2, 2006 (no game May Day)Elijah Dukes -- June 27-28, 30, 2005 (no game June 29)

Lake County 9, Hot Rods 4Luke Bailey hit a two-run double in the seventh and a solo homer in the ninth. Phil Wunderlich singled, walked, HBP'd and scored. Jason McEachern, in his Bowling Green return debut, gave up six runs on 10 hits in five innings. Austin Hubbard threw two perfect innings.

Auburn 3, Renegades 1Ryan Carpenter threw five no-hit innings and walked one in his professional debut. The Renegades had four singles and one walk.

Pulaski 6, Princeton 5 (10)Drew Vettleson was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs and threw out a runner at home. Jake Hager singled twice and scored twice. Jake DePew was also 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a steal. Matt Spann posted a book-rule quality start on eight hits.

GCL Rays 5, Twins 2 (12)Jonathan Quinonez walked, was hit by a pitch, stole and scored twice. He knocked in Edward Dorville, who had tripled, with the go-ahead run. Cesar Perez and Brandon Martin each were 2-for-6. Eli Echarry threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Catcher Craig Albernaz is being demoted from Triple-A Durham to fill Stephen Vogt's roster spot with the Biscuits. Albernaz has been with Durham all season and was hitting .167 in eight games. It will be the fifth season he's played for Montgomery.

Catcher Stephen Vogt was promoted to Triple-A Durham after tonight's game, stripping the Biscuits of their most productive hitter. Vogt leads Montgomery with a .301 average, 13 home runs and 85 RBIs. He ranks second in the league in RBIs.

Matt Moore tossed eight shutout innings tonight in his second start at Triple-A Durham and tied a career high with 13 strikeouts. He gave up three hits. The Bulls downed Gwinnett 4-0. Moore also whiffed 13 on Aug. 7, 2010, for the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Tampa Bay has promoted right-handers Rob Delaney and Jay Buente from Triple-A Durham and sent down left-hander Cesar Ramos to the Bulls. After Buente made his Rays debut Tuesday, he went back to Durham.

The Rays had to add Delaney to the 40-man roster. Delaney, who was with the Rays in May before being outrighted to Durham, had a 1.78 ERA and gave up 37 hits in 50 2/3 innings with the Bull.

Buente, plucked off waivers from the Marlins in May, had a 6.67 in 27 innings at Durham. Ramos had a 4.22 ERA in 46 games with the Rays.

I arrive at the stadium and what do I see?No, not the infield. It's the tarp staring back at me.Raindrops fall all around. Thick clouds are abound.The weather this month has definitely been lame.But tonight -- as of right now -- there will be a game.Water shoots sideways and I sit here and moan.Will the Biscuits eventually demand a retractable dome?

The Biscuits should be in line to add a player -- and return to the 24-man Southern League roster limit -- after Durham added a player. Relief pitcher Adam Russell, designated for assignment last week by the Tampa Bay Rays, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to the Triple-A Bulls, who now are 1 over the International League ceiling.

Hot Rods 4, Peoria 3Luke Bailey scored on an error with two outs in the ninth to cap a three-run rally. Keith Castillo's two-run homer tied it after Nick Schwaner hit a two-out double. Bailey singled, went to second on a Kevin Kiermaier walk, to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error. Castillo had three hits and three RBIs. Schwaner also tripled and scored twice.

Renegades 2, Mahoning Valley 0Mickey Jannis, Jake Floethe and Robert Dickmann combined on a six-hitter. Jannis (three innings) and Floethe (five) each gave up three hits. Ryan Church hit a two-run double in the fifth. Craige Lyerly singled, stole twice and scored.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Instead of having an overly fallow blog day and remembering the fielding independent pitching stat, here's a repeat from our May 31 post and a look at Montgomery's current pitchers.

FIP is meant to indicate what a pitcher's ERA should be, if not for the differences in defense. The "luckiest" Biscuit at the moment, except for one-start Alex Colome, is Neil Schenk, whose ERA is almost a run less than it supposedly should be. The "unluckiest" Biscuit is Matt Bush, whose ERA is more than double what it should be, according to FIP.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Bulls 2, Toledo 1Andy Sonnanstine allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings. He needed just 83 pitches. Felipe Lopez singled, doubled and hit a solo home run in the fifth. J.J. Furmaniak singled in Leslie Anderson in the fourth. Furmaniak also doubled.

Dunedin 6, Stone Crabs 5Mike Jarman gave up a two-run home run in the ninth. He also had a single and two walks charged to him. Matt Hall hit a solo home run in the fourth, doubled and had two RBIs. Tyler Bortnick doubled twice, walked and stole.

Renegades 6, Mahoning Valley 0Parker Markel, Justin Woodall and Stayton Thomas combined on a three-hitter. Markel gave up two hits and a walk in five innings. Woodall tossed two perfect frames with four strikeouts. Thomas had a hit and walk in his two inning. Chris Winder singled, walked, stole and scored twice. Jeff Malm hit a three-run homer in the first. Craige Lyerly singled twice, tripled, walked, stole and scored.

P-Rays 9, Bluefield 4Taylor Motter homered twice, doubled, scored three times and had four RBIs. Jake Hager homered, doubled twice, walked and scored three runs. Cameron Seitzer had three hits, including a double, walked twice, scored and knocked in two runs. Felipe Rivero threw five shutout innings and struck out seven.

Bulls 9, Toledo 2Felipe Lopez, Daniel Mayora and Ray Olmedo knocked in two runs each. John Matulia was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Brandon Guyer and Dan Johnson each walked twice. Alex Torres allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Stone Crabs 3, Dunedin 2C.J. Riefenhauser went five innings in his debut, giving up one run on four hits and a walk. Brett Nommensen hit an RBI triple and scored in the eighth. Reid Fronk singled, walked and stole.

Peoria 2, Hot Rods 1Julio Cedeno homered to lead off the fourth. Cody Rogers singled, doubled and had an outfield assist. Braulio Lara's six innings included one run on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Stephen Vogt had three RBIs in the Biscuits' 4-2 win over the Jackson Generals in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.

Vogt hit a two-run triple and scored on a Henry Wrigley groundout to make it 3-2 in the third. Vogt singled in Tim Beckham in the sixth. Beckham doubled twice and scored twice.

Biscuits closer Zach Quate squirmed out of a jam of his own creation in the seventh (and final) inning. He gave up singles to the first two batters. After a flyout, a groundout put both runners in scoring position before a flyout ended it.

Pitcher Jason McEachern, freshly promoted from short-season Hudson Valley to Bowling Green, will make his season debut for the Hot Rods on Wednesday at Lake County. To create roster space for McEachern, the Hot Rods put infielder Hector Guevara on the disabled list.

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLSInternational League South(56-43, first place, 0.5 GB)LHP Matt Moore gave up one run in five innings in his debut Friday. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out seven.3B Daniel Mayora is 11-for-24 with nine runs scored in his last five games. He's hitting .275.IF Felipe Lopez, who has 10 RBIs in his last five games, has a .302 average and 34 RBIs in 43 games.OF John Matulia homered twice Thursday and is hitting .194.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABSFlorida State League South(16-12, third place, 2 GB)SS Hak-Ju Lee has a .282 average and .329 on-base percentage in July, his worst month of the season. He's scored 15 runs in 17 games this month.LHP Kyle Lobstein has lost six straight starts and is 6-8 with a 4.11 ERA. On Friday, he took a shutout into the sixth before giving up three runs and leaving with one out.RHP Deivis Mavarez has recorded 8 2/3 shutout innings in his last four appearances. He has a 3.38 ERA in 40 innings this year.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODSMidwest League Eastern(13-14, sixth place, 6 GB)RHP Victor Mateo picked up his 10th win with three no-hit innings Friday. Starter Enny Romero, Mateo and Steve Hiscock combined on a one-hitter.IF Robby Price has a .423 average and eight runs scored in his current seven-game hit streak. He has a .265 average, 61 walks and 57 runs scored in 88 games.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYSAppalachian League East(18-13, tied for first place)2B Ryan Brett has scored 22 times in 27 games. He has a .315 average.RHP Jeff Ames, after throwing five no-hit innings Wednesday, is 2-1 with a 5.11 ERA.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYSGulf Coast League South(13-16, tied for third, 4 GB)LHP Shay Crawford hasn't allowed an earned run, has given up five hits and totaled 21 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. His three shutout innings Monday included eight strikeouts.

WAYWARD BISCUITSThose who strayed from the RaysCF Fernando Perez, after being released by Triple-A Iowa (Cubs), has a .200 average after five games with Triple-A Buffalo (Mets).RHP Dale Thayer has 10 saves and a 2.74 ERA in 36 games at Triple-A Buffalo (Mets).C Matt Spring is hitting .262 in 11 games for Double-A Portland (Red Sox).LHP Chris Seddon is 6-5 with a 5.83 ERA with Triple-A Tacoma (Mariners).LHP Justin Dowdy has a 5.18 ERA for Triple-A Fresno (Giants).RHP Brian Stokes has nine saves and a 3.73 ERA for independent Camden.RHP Jose Diaz is 4-4 with a 5.99 ERA and 45 walks in 79.2 innings at independent Long Island.RHP Nick DeBarr has a 3.32 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 40.2 innings with independent Fort Worth.

Missed this two weeks ago: Heath Rollins, who had a 4.34 ERA at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in Kansas City's system, retired. He was a Biscuit from 2008-10 and went to the Royals in December's minor league Rule 5 draft.

Reliever Marquis Fleming, after making two appearances for Triple-A Durham, is coming back to the Biscuits. The Bulls are adding Dane De La Rosa from the majors. Also hearing that starter Jason McEachern has been promoted from Hudson Valley to Bowling Green, which is the latest from the Matt Moore-to-Durham/Alex Colome-to-Montgomery/C.J. Riefenhauser-to-Charlotte string.

Outfielder Desmond Jennings has been promoted to the Rays and shortstop Reid Brignac dropped to Triple-A Durham in a swap of former Biscuits. Jennings had a .275 average for the Bulls and his ascension may be a sign that Tampa Bay is interested in dealing B.J. Upton. Brignac was hitting .193.

Bulls 4, Toledo 3Matt Moore worked five innings in his debut, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. John Matulia doubled home Nevin Ashley to cap a three-run eighth inning. Ashley had singled in Daniel Mayora. Brandon Guyer homered and walked.

Dunedin 3, Stone Crabs 2Anthony Scelfo left after injuring his head on a first-inning catch in foul territory. Deivis Mavarez threw two perfect innings. Kyle Lobstein gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Brett Nommensen and Tyler Bortnick each had a hit, walk and RBI. Ty Morrison singled and doubled.

Hot Rods 2, Burlington 0Steve Hiscock surrendered a one-out single in the ninth to break up a no-hitter. Enny Romero threw four innings and Victor Mateo (10-4) followed with three. Romero walked three and Mateo none. Robi Estrada singled, walked, stole twice and scored.

Bulls 18, Rochester 3Besides what's been posted here and here, Marquis Fleming threw two shutout innings. He gave up one hit and walked one. Eight of the nine hitters scored at least twice. Desmond Jennings singled and walked thrice.

Stone Crabs 4, Dunedin 3Reid Fronk's sacrifice fly in the ninth brought in the winning run. Hak-Ju Lee singled, walked and scored. Jake Thompson had a book-rule quality start before Mike Jarman tossed three innings with one hit, no walks and three strikeouts.

Hot Rods 6, Burlington 5Robby Price and Derek Dietrich each hit two-run home runs, walked and had three RBIs. Price also singled and scored again. Steve Tinoco had three hits.

Staten Island 8, Renegades 7Jeff Malm homered twice and totaled three RBIs. Cesar Guillen, who had three hits, and Craige Lyerly each homered. Leonardo Reginatto singled and walked twice. Jason McEachern went just four-plus innings (hmmm) and gave up three earned runs on six hits. Justin Woodall threw two perfect innings.

Princeton Rays 12, Elizabethton 3Joel Caminero was 4-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Ryan Terry had two hits, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Deshun Dixon singled twice, walked and scored. Brandon Henderson struck out seven and gave up a run over three innings.

GCL Twins 7, Rays 5Matthew Johnson walked twice, stole once and scored twice. Todd Glaesmann, in his first game since a June elbow injury with Bowling Green, singled, stole twice and scored.

Isaias Velasquez's two-run triple in the 10th inning led the Biscuits to an 11-9 win over the Jackson Generals on Thursday. John Shelby homered, singled, walked and scored three runs. Tim Beckham's three-run home run highlighted a seven-run sixth that gave Montgomery a 9-3 lead.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Pitcher Jim Paduch, after winning his Durham debut start today, is coming back to the Biscuits. Promoted Monday, Paduch worked seven-plus innings today in Durham's 18-3 win at Rochester, giving up three runs on eight hits and a walk. He took a shutout into the seventh. The Biscuits stand at 2-under 22 on the par-24 Southern League roster limit.

Durham set a Triple-A team record with seven home runs today in an 18-3 win at Rochester. Dan Johnson hit one and finished with five hits and four RBIs. John Matulia homered twice. The other homer hitters: Russ Canzler, J.J. Furmaniak, Daniel Mayora and Nevin Ashley.

The Biscuits are getting right-handed starter Alex Colome from high-Class A Charlotte, which is adding left-handed starter C.J. Riefenhauser from Bowling Green.

Colome, who ranks seventh on Baseball America's preseason list of Tampa Bay prospects, was 9-5 with a 3.66 ERA for the Stone Crabs. In 105 2/3 innings, he held Florida State League hitters to a .214 average and totaled 92 strikeouts.

Colome is scheduled to make his Biscuits debut in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Jackson.

Riefenhauser was 6-5 with a 2.31 ERA with the Hot Rods and threw five shutout innings of one-run ball in each of his last two starts. His 101 1/3 innings featured a .212 average against and 99 strikeouts. He'll debut for Charlotte on Saturday.

Bulls 7, Rochester 6 (10)Russ Canzler homered in the 10th inning after Leslie Anderson singled in John Matulia to tie it in the eighth. Felipe Lopez hit a grand slam and Anderson a solo shot in a five-run third. Desmond Jennings doubled, walked and scored. Marquis Fleming gave up three unearned runs and recorded one out in his debut. Joe Bateman threw 2 1/3 shutout and Rob Delaney two shutout innings.

Lakeland 11, Stone Crabs 0Hak-Ju Lee and Ty Morrison each had two of Charlotte's six hits. Omar Luna walked twice. Alex Koronis went five innings, allowing four hits and four runs (two earned). Anthony Scelfo polished it off with a two-run eighth.

Hot Rods 7, Burlington 1Derek Dietrich hit a three-run home run and Phil Wunderlich a solo blast. Robby Price scored twice. Price and Wunderlich were plunked. George Jensen fired six innings of one-run ball with two hits, four walks and six strikeouts.

Renegades 5, Staten Island 4Juniel Querecuto tripled in two runs to cap a four-run eighth. Leonardo Reginatto was 3-for-3 with a run, RBI and error. Tanner Biagini singled, walked and scored twice. Brooks Belter gave up an unearned run in 3 1/3 innings.

Princeton Rays 5, Johnson City 3Jeff Ames threw five no-hit innings, walking one and striking out six. Deshun Dixon homered, hit an RBI single and walked. Jake Hager singled twice, stole, was nabbed stealing and scored. Ryan Brett stole home as part of a double steal.